Automobile-signal.



S. COHN.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED mum. 191a.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

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S. COHN.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-31.1918.

1,292,71 1 Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

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\ SAMUEL court, or New YORK, N. in, ssienon "i'o jPo IoE TRAFFIC AUTO SIGNAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION oF'nEw YORK.

AUTOMOBILE-SIGNAL.

"Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed January a1. 1918. Serial No. 214,711.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LSAMUEL Conn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Bronx, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Signals, of which the following in a specification.

My invention relates to signaling devices for automobiles. The object of my invention is to provide, in a signaldevice of the semaphore type, simple and efficient means to arrest or stop the si nal plates as they are swung into or out of their box, so asto cushion the plates and prevent hammer blows on the parts and to rendertheir operation noiseless. Another object of my invention is to provide spacing and pivotal means for the signal plates which will eliminate rattling in this branch of the device. Another object is to provide simpl'e'means to prevent the, plates from rattling if their free ends strike together. A further object is to provide a very simple and convenient universal joint for connecting the signal box to the supporting bracket so that the box may be arranged at any desired angle. This joint is so made that it will permit adjustments to be made very conveniently and it is adapted to hold firmly when tightened.

Another object is to provide an efficient clamp for securing the bracket to the windshield frame and one which will be readily adaptable to frames, the bars of which are of different dimensions, thus making one form of signaling device universally applicable to all makes of automobiles.

Another object is to provide a convenient form of box for the signal plates and a simple frame for attachin a viewing mirror to the box, the whole being light and easy to assemble.

Another object is to provide a light for use at night, either to signal direct or to throw light on the signal plates and in the present case I avoid having to use many switches and complicated electrical equipment by arranging the signal plates and electrical contact so that these plates will close and open the circuit in which the lamp is connected. This is a most economical arrangement and it is very compact.

Another object is to eliminate binding. be-

tween the parts in the event that the signal and controller boxes are placed in different angular positions relatively to each other.

Other advantages will be pointed outin the following detailed description.

In the drawing forming part of this application,

Figure 1 is an elevation of the signal device attached to the windshield frame of an automobile,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4.- is a. detail view showing the means for arresting the signal plates,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the box showing the method of securing the mirror,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the clamp for securing the bracket to the wind shield frame, and

Fig. 8 is a. sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the upper part of the signal box and associated parts and the controller, showing the same in elevation,

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the light for the signal plates,

Fig. 11 is an edge view of the parts shown in Fig. 9,

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the connection between a signal operating wire and the sliding rod, and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

The box 1 for holding the signal plates comprises a back 2 a closed side 3 an open side 4 for the signal plates, a top 5 and a bottom 6. Before the attachment of the mirror the front of the casing is open and the lugs projecting inwardly from its edges form abutments against which the mirror frame may rest. There is a separate frame for attaching the mirror and this is here shown as of the same general outline as the box 1 z. 6., rectangular. At the closed side of the box the frame is U-shape in cross section, whereas, near the open side of the box it is of L shape in cross'section to'permit the V mirror to be placed into the frame.

The lugs 9 on the frame are adapted to overlap the edges of the box 1 at the top, and bottom and the screws 10 passing through these lugs and into the box hold the frame in place on the box with the mirror within the confining flanges 11 of the frame. The mirror forms a convenient means for observing'the' approach of vehicles from the rear. The device shown herein for attaching and holding the mirror'is very simple and light and the parts may be stamped from sheet metal.

The signal plates 12 bearing'the desired signaling indications are mounted to swing on common stud 13 there being three such plates shown in the drawing. .Each plate has a collar 14: fixed thereto, one method being to force the smaller end 15 of the collar through an aperture in the signal plate so that its larger portion abuts against one face of the signal plate. Each collar projects laterally beyond its respective plate so that it may rest against the next adjacent plate or against the box and these collars act as spacers to hold the plates spaced apart on their stud 13 and spaced from the back of the box 1. The plate 12 and collar 14 are connected tightly together so that they move as one. This form of separator keeps the plates apart at the top and the separating device itself will not rattle. On the freeend of the stud 13 I have arranged a spring disk 16 which is held by a cotter pin 17 and which holds the several signal plates from shifting laterally on the stud 13.

The signal plates 12 when retracted hang down from the stud 13 within the box 1 but any one or several may be swung on the stud to the signaling position indicated in Fig. 1.

At their lower ends the plates 12 have strips 18 of leather or other suitable material, which strips are secured to the plates so as to project from the surface thereof and prevent the free ends of the plates from striking each other or the casing, to prevent.

rattling. The strip 18 on the plate nearest the rear wall is U shape and protects both faces of this plate, whereas the other strips need only protect one face of each plate.

There is a wire 19 connected at 20 to each signal plate and these lead out through the connection 21 at One side of the casing to operating levers, arranged at some convenient position in the automobile. These wires may be operated by the levers shown in my co-pending case or by any other form of controlling means. Downward pull on a wire 19 will swing the corresponding signal plate into signaling position and an upward push will return the plate within the box 1. Each plate has a turned over lip, 22, which is adapted to strike against the corresponding operating wire or rod 19, as shown in Figs. 3 and 41, when the plate reaches the proper signaling position (raised). As the wire or rod The wires 19 lead through a flexible tube i 46. The free end of this tube connects with a controller box 43 which is adapted to be attached to some convenient part of the automobile, preferably the steering post. There is a sliding rod 414' for each wire 19, arranged in the controller box 13 and these rods project from the end of the box where they are provided with operating handles 4.7 and locking levers 45. The means for locking the sliding rods 14: are not claimed herein as they form the subject matter of my said co-pending application.

The backwall 2 of the box has stamped or drawn thereon a spherical socket 23 forming part of the universal joint for connecting the box with the supporting bracket 2 1. The bracket 24, which is here shown as a tube, has a curved cotter pin 25 extending through it to form an abutment for a spherical disk or washer 26 which rests against the outer surface of the socket 23 and conforming to the curvature thereof. The means for tightening the washers against the socket 23 comprises a bolt 28 which passes through apertures in the tube 24 just beyond the washer 27. This bolt has wedge or cone shaped members 29 arranged in opposite posit-ions and extending partly within apertures in the tube 24 and these wedge shaped members are adapted to be forced toward each other when the bolt 28 is tightened. The cone or wedge shaped members conform more or less to the curve of, the.

washer 27 and when they are forced toward each other by the tightening of the bolt they force, by their wedging action, the washers 27, 26 and socket 23 tightly against the cotter pin 25 and thus tighten the universal joint in any desired position. The

central aperture 30 of the socket member is j parallel therewith, but the washers remain stationary; that is, they do not turn with the socket member. When the box is properly DOSltlOIlGClfil'le bolt 28 is tightenedand this forces the wedge members toward each other and they in turn force the washers and socket members together. This adjustment To position the box device'is not only convenient and inexpensive but the parts maybe very light in construction.

The device for securing the bracket to the windshield frame is shown in detail in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. There is a casting 31 having a split socket 32 to receive the end of the bracket tube 24 the bolt 33 serving to tighten the socketon the tube. The casting 31 has fixed jaws 34 provided with a groove 35 to partly receive the post 36 of the windshield frame. For each fixed jaw there is a cooperating movable jaw 37 having a groove 38 topartly receive a portion of the post 36 at the side opposite the fixed jaw. The movable jaw has a curved bearing member 39 which may rock in a curved socket 40 of the casting 31 and there is a screw 41 passing through the movable jaw and having a screw threaded connection with the member 31. portion 42 of the jaw member 37 which is curved concentrically with the pivotal point of this jaw. In attaching the clamp to the post 36the fixed and movable jaws are positioned as shown and the screw 41 is then inserted and tightened. The movable jaw is rocked on its bearing by the pressure of the screw until the free end of the jaw presses tightly on the post. If the clamp is to be attached to a larger or smaller post than the one shown, the rocking action of the movable jaw makes the adjustment very convenient as it is only necessary to swing the movable jaw on its pivot to secure an adjustment suited to the particular post, and to then tighten the screw 41. A single screw serves to hold the jaw.

The controller box and signal box will often be placed in different relative positions due to various adjustments of the latter on the universal joint and to the positioning of the former to suit the convenience of the autoist. The flexible tube 21 and the operating wire 19 permit of this adjustment, but I have found that where the parts are turned in relation to each other there is a tendency for the operating parts, including the wires 19, to bind so that they do not operate with. e ual freedom under all conditions. To ehminate this I have provided a turning or revolving connection between the operating handles 47 and the signal plates, preferably where the rods 44 connect with the wires 19. I have provided a recess 48 in the rods 44 in which a collar 49 is free to turn and to engage against the abutment shoulders 50 and 51. The end of a wire 19 is inserted through an aperture 52 in the rod 44 and in an aperture 53 in the collar 49 where it is secured by screws 54. If the controller box is turned in relation to the signal box the A turning of the rods 44 will not twist the wires 19 because the collar 49 may revolve freely in relation to the rod 44 and this will The head of the screw 41 presses on aprevent binding action in the operation of the signal plates.

Preferably on the top of the signal box I arrange the night lamp. There is a block 55 of insulating material attached by screws 56 to the top of the box 1. On this block there is fixed a strap 57 which receivesthe tubular end 58 of an electric lamp bulb 59, the clamp being tightened on the tubular end by the screws 60. I have shown the lamp bulb projecting over the open side of the signal box though under the broader aspect of my invention it may have any desired position in relation thereto. The lamp may be left exposed to give a direct signal by its light rays but in the preferred construction there is a reflector 61 clamped at 62 to the tubular end 58 and arranged to throw the light downwardly over the edges of the signal plates to light both rear and front surfaces thereof so that the signals may be read 'at night from either front or rear. There is awire 63 connected with one terminal of the lamp, passing over the top of the box 1, through an eyelet 64 and it runs to some sourceof electric supply, preferably to the batteries which operate the tail lights of the automobile. If the lamp 59 is connected in the tail light circuit it will require no independent switch and the signal lamp will be made operative whenever the tail lights are turned on.

There is a contact spring 65 secured to the block 55 just above the signal plates and a wire 66 leading from this spring connects with another terminal of the lam to that with which the wire 63 connects. It may be stated that one branch of the electric circuit connects with or is grounded on the signal box 1. The spring contact 65 is preferably broad enough to be acted upon by any one of the signal plates. In operation, the electric circuit is closed except at the contact 65 as long as all of the signal plates are down but whenever a signal plate is swung up into signaling position it comes into contact with the spring 65 and closes the circuit at this point. This causes the lamp to burn and it will continue to burn as long as any one or more signal plates remains up. When all the signal plates are down the circuit will be broken at the spring and the lamp will then be out. It will be apparent that the construction is much simplified by using the sig nal plates for controlling the lamp circuit.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A signaling device comprising a box, a signal plate therein pivoted to be projected into signaling position, a resilient member such as a wire or rod connected to the signal plate whereby the latter may be operated at a distance from the signal box, and means on said signal plate adapted to engage the said resilient member whereby the latter will arrest the signal member in signaling position. V

2. A signaling device comprising a box, signaling plates pivoted side by side to be 7 swung into signaling position, said plates each having a lateral projection, operating rods connected to the respective signal plates and adapted to be operated at a distance from said box to swing the signal plates and arranged to be engaged by said lateral projections when the signal plates are projected into signaling position, whereby the said signal plates will be arrested by said rods.

3. A signaling device comprising abox, a support, a plurality of signal plates mounted to swing on said support, means for operating said signaling plates, and strips of noiseless material near the free ends of said plates and projecting laterally from the plates for the purpose set forth.

4. A device of the class described comprising a box, signal plates therein adapted to be swung into signaling position, a flexible tube connected at one end with said box,

a controller box connected with the opposite end of said flexible-tube, wires for operating at varying angles relatively to saidsignal box.

5. A device of the class described comprising a signal box signal plates therein adapted to be swung into signaling position, a flexible tube connected at one end with said box, a controller box connected with the opposite end of said tube, wires for operating said signalplates disposed in said tube, sliding rods in said controller box having operating handles, and revoluble connections between said wires and said sliding rods, for the purpose set forth.

Signed at the city, county and State of New York, this 15th day of J anuary,'19l8.

SAMUEL COHN.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

